Central grading system for cut flowers

ABSTRACT

A rack for grading cut flower material includes a bar element and a shelf element which support the flower heads. The shelf element is pivotally mounted for swinging movement about one edge to a vertical position. This increases the space between the bar element and the shelf element and permits easy removal of the bunch.

United States Patent Inventors Gerald L. Gregoire San Rafael;

Kenneth R. Duff, Petaluma; George E. Kemper. San Francisco. all of,Calif. 14,616

Feb. 26, 1970 Aug. 10, I971 Gregoire Flowers, Inc.

San Francisco, Calif.

Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee CENTRAL GRADING SYSTEM FOR CUT FLOWERS9 Chills, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 209/123, 2| l/ l 0 htl Cl 842i 17/00 Field of Search 209/l22.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,964,183 l2/l960 Mathews209/123 2,966,991 l/l96l Duffner... 211/60 R 3.438506 4/1969 Groth o.211/60 T Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Attorney-Fryer, Tjensvold,Feix, Phillips and Lempio ABSTRACT: A rack for grading cut flowermaterial includes a bar element and a shelf element which support theflower heads. The shelf element is pivotally mounted for swingingmovement about one edge to a vertical position. This increases the spacebetween the bar element and the shelf element and permits easy removalof the bunch.

PATENIEU were 1971 3, 598.234

SHEET 1 0F 2 KENNETH R. DUFF BY GEORGE E. KEMPER AT T oRNEYs PATENTEBmslman 3; 598 234 BY GEQRGE Y I p AE TO NEYS CENTRAL GRADING SYSTEM FORCUT FLOWERS This invention relates to methods and apparatus forprocessing cut flowers to produce graded flower bunches from ungradedcut flower material.

This invention relates particularly to a rack arrangement which is animprovement over that disclosed in copending U.S. application Ser. No.788,113, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,809 filed Dec. 3, I968 by Gerald L.Gregoire and assigned to the same assignee as the assignee of thisapplication.

As noted in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 788,113 out flowers aresold by grades. For example, the four top grades are selects, fancy,standard and shorts.

Grading is done on three bases. Flowers are graded by blossom head size,by stem length and by stem strength.

Proper grading and consistency of grading are'quite important. The costof inconsistency in grading to the wholesaler is loss of customerconfidence and the inability to build repeat business.

Inconsistency of grading also costs the retailer. The cost to theretailer is undependability of supply, excess cost in buying time,returned goods and outright losses.

Central grading by a wholesaler has advantages over grading byindividual growers. Grading by individual growers is apt to be quitesubjective. There may be differences in grading between differentgrowers. The grading by individual growers also requires severalhandlings of the flowers by the grower. This additional handlingincreases the chances for breaking and bruising of the flowers.

The present invention includes a rack arrangement which acts as amechanical aid in grading, and which is particularly adapted for centralgrading by a wholesaler. Each of the racks includes a laterally spacedpair of support members for engaging the underside of flower heads tosupport the flowers as the flowers are inserted between the pairs ofsupport members.

It is an important object of the present invention to construct the rackfor ease of entrance of the flowers to be graded.

It is another important object of the present invention to open up therack after the flower bunch has been formed so that the flowers can beeasily removed from the rack.

in accordance with the present invention each pair of support members inthe rack includes a shelf element which is positioned horizontally tosupport the flower heads while the flowers are being inserted into therack. The shelf element is pivotally mounted for swinging movement aboutone edge to a vertical position to increase the space between thesupport members when the rack has been filled. This permits easy removalof the flower bunch from the rack.

It is another object of the present invention to effect automaticcounting control of the flowers loaded into the rack. To achieve thisobject the shelf elements are formed with recessed edge portions. Forexample, the shelf element may be recessed to offset the first flower inthe shelf to one side and to permit the next four flowers to be lined upone behind the other and to offset the last flower to one side.

It is another object of the present invention to include a linkage whichis connected to the shelf elements and which is effective to rotate eachof the shelf elements simultaneously on actuation of the linkage.

The linkage includes a bar element which acts as a handle for operatingthe linkage. The bar element also serves to position the lower ends ofthe flower stems close together as the flowers are placed in the rack.

A rack arrangement incorporating these structural features and effectiveto function in the manner described is a further, specific object of thepresent invention.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferredembodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and whatare now considered to be the best modes contemplated for applying theseprinciples.

Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalentprinciples may be used and structural changes may be made as desired bythose skilled in the art without departing from the present inventionand the purview of the appended claims.

In the Drawings:

FIG. I is a front elevation view of a rack arrangement constructed inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the rack shown in FIG. I and is taken alongthe line and in the direction indicated by the arrows 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view taken along the line and inthe direction indicated by the arrows 33 in FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is a back elevation view, taken along the line and in thedirection indicated by the arrows 44 in FIG. 2, and shows a linkagearrangement for operating shelf elements of the rack;

FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 4 but shows the linkage actuated to turn theshelf elements to vertical positions in which the flower bunch caneasily be withdrawn from the rack.

A rack apparatus constructed in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 11 inFIG. I.

The rack arrangement II shown in FIG. 1 is set up for operation by oneoperator at an individual grading station. The racks can be positionedadjacent to one another as module components. Ungraded cut flowermaterial may be conveyed to the grading stations by a conveyorpositioned behind the operator. The waste material may be conveyed awayfrom the grading station on a conveyor 12. The waste conveyor I2 ispositioned below the racks to accept debris by gravity and to transportit away from the operator.

Any required number of rack arrangements II may be used depending on theamount of cut flower material to be graded.

In accordance with the present invention each rack arrangement IIincludes four racks I4, I6, 18 and 20. The racks I4, I6, I8 and 20 aremounted on a frame 22.

Each rack M, I6, 18 and 20 includes four pairs of laterally spacedsupport members 23 and 24. The support members 23 and 24 engage theundersides of the flower heads, as best shown in racks I6 and 18 in FIGI, to support the cut flowers as the cut flowers are loaded in the rack.

As will be described in detail below, the support member 23 is a shelfelement which is horizontally positioned to support the flowers whilethe flowers are being loaded in the rack. The shelf element 23 ispivotally mounted for swinging movement about one edge to a verticalposition, as illustrated in rack 14, to increase the space between thepairs of support members and permit easier removal of the flower bunchafter the rack has been filled with cut flowers.

A sheet metal guide 26 extends between the ends of the frame 22 and isinclined downwardly and backwardly as viewed in FIG. I. This sheet metalguide catches the cutoff parts of the stems as the operator trims theflower bunch at the level of a bar 28 after a rack has been filled. Theangle of which the guide 26 is inclined causes the cut stems to droponto the conveyor 12.

The horizontally extending bar 28 serves as the guide for indicating thelocation at which the stems should be cut. The stems may be cut off byshears.

The rack arrangement II also includes a number of upper and lower bins32 and 34. As described in greater detail in the above noted copendingU.S. application Ser. No. 788,] I3, these bins hold grade identificationcards and grower identification cards, and appropriate cards areattached to the flower bunches as the bunches are formed in the racks14, I6, I8 and 20.

As best shown in FIG. 3 the upper bins 32 may be divided by a partitions35 to provide separate storage compartments 36. The storage compartments36 contain rubber bands 38 and tabs 40 for use in tying the lower end ofthe flower bunch after a bunch has been formed in the rack.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the shelf element 23 preferably has recessededge portions 23R. These recessed edge portions are useful to effectautomatic counting control. Thus, the first flower is offset to oneside, the next four flowers are lined up one behind the other, and thelast flower is offset to one side as six flowers are placed between thepair of support members 23 and 24. Depending on the cut flower materialbeing placed in the racks, the 1-4-1 offset arrangement might be used orsome other offset arrangement might be used. For example, the shelfelements 23 might be formed with recessed edge portions effective tooffset the first two flowers to one side and to offset the last one ortwo flowers to one side.

The support elements 24 may be bars or tubes.

In accordance with present invention linkage means, indicated generallyby the reference number 41 in FIGS. 4 and 5, are connected to the shelfelements 23 so as to rotate all shelf elements in one racksimultaneously on actuation of the linkage means.

The linkage means 41 includes two sets of links with each set of linksconnected to operate two shelf elements. Both sets of links areconnected to a bar element 42 which extends between the bins 32. Thisbar element serves a dual purpose. It helps to keep the lower end of theflower stems close together while the flower bunches are being formed.The bar element 42 also serves as the handle for actuating the linkages41 after the bunch has been formed.

The bar element 42 is mounted for pivoting movement about pins 44 (seeFIG. 3) and is connected in pin joint connections to upwardly extendingrods 46. Each rod 46 is connected in a pin joint connection to a linkelement 48.

The link element 48 forms one arm of a bellcrank. The other arm of thebellcrank is a link element 50. The bellcrank formed by the linkelements 48 and 50 is connected to the lower shelf element 23 so thatthis shelf element rotates in unison with the bellcrank.

The outer link element 50 is connected to a link element 52 in a pinjoint connection. The link element 52 is connected to a link element 54in a pin joint connection.

The link element 54 is connected, by a set screw or by other means, tothe upper shelf element 23 so that this shelf element rotates with thelink element 54.

In operation, as the bar element 42 is pressed downwardly the rods 46move upwardly (because of the lever action produced by the pivot pins44), and the various link elements of the linkages 41 move from thepositions shown in FIG. 4 to those shown in FIG. 5. This causes theshelf elements 23 to rotate from the horizontal position shown in FIG. 4to the vertieal positions shown in FIG. 5.

The rack arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is constructed so that the lowerends of the flower stems in each flower bunch may be trimmed at thelevel of the guide bar 28. The rack arrangement II is also constructedso that the racks I4 and 16, the racks adapted to receive the standardand select grades respectively, are located at the right-hand side ofthe grading station as the operator faces the rack arrangement 11.

The racks l8 and 20, the racks adapted to receive the fancy and shortgrades, are located at the left-hand side of the rack arrangement 11.About 70 percent to 80 percent of the volume is in the standard andselect grades. Most graders are right handed. Putting these two gradesnearest to the righthand minimizes the reaching that is required andproduces the most efficient operation.

As noted above, flowers are graded by blossom head size, by stem length,and by stem strength. From a functional standpoint let us assume that anindividual flower picked up by a grader has a head side which is toosmall to go in the select rack 16 or the fancy rack 18. The grader mightthen try to put the flower in the standard rack 14. If the stem is longenough,

the flower would stay in the standard rack. If the stern length is notlong enough, the flower would then go to the last position,

the shorts rack 20.

If a flower head is a good size flower, the flower would go into one ofthe middle two racks, the select rack 16 or the fancy rack 18. Thlswould be determined by stem lengths. This rack arrangement gives thegrower the best possible grade.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred em bodiments ofour invention, it is to be understood that these are capable ofvariation and modification, and we therefore do not wish to be limitedto the precise details set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of suchchanges and alterations as fall within the purview of the followingclaims.

What I claim is:

I. A rack apparatus for forming a graded bunch of cut flowers as cutflowers of that grade are placed in the rack apparatus and comprising, aplurality of laterally spaced pairs of support members for engaging theunderside of flower heads to support the flowers, each of said pairs ofsupport members including a shelf element horizontally positioned tosupport the flower heads and pivotally mounted for swinging movementabout one edge to a vertical position to increase the space between thepair of support members and to permit easy removal of the bunch.

2. A rack apparatus as defined in claim 1 including linkage meansconnected to the shelf elements and effective to rotate each of theshelf elements simultaneously on actuation of the linkage.

3. A rack apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the rack apparatusincludes four pairs of support members and wherein the linkage meansincludes two sets of links with each set of links connected to operatetwo shelf elements.

4. A rack apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the linkage meansincludes a bar element which serves to position the lower ends of theflower stem close together as the cut flowers are placed in the rackapparatus.

5. A rack apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each pair of supportmembers includes a fixed rod element extending parallel to the shelfelement.

6. A rack apparatus as defined in claim I wherein the shelf elementscontain recessed edge portions to facilitate ease of counting.

7. A rack apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the shelf elements arerecessed to offset the first flower in the shelf to one side and topermit the next four flowers to be lined up one behind the other and tooffset the last flower to one side.

8. A flower grading station for simultaneously grading cut flowers andforming the graded flowers in bunches by grade and comprising, aplurality of flower holding racks for forming graded bunches of cutflowers as the flowers are placed in the racks by grades, each rackapparatus comprising a plurality of laterally spaced pairs of supportmembers for engaging the underside of flower heads to support membersfor engaging the underside of flower heads to support the flowers, eachof said pairs of support members including a shelf element horizontallypositioned to support the flower head and pivotally mounted for swingingmovement about one edge to a vertical position to increase the spacebetween the pair of support members and to permit easy removal of thegraded bunch from the rack after the rack has been filled.

9. A flower grading station as defined in claim 8 wherein the racks arearranged at the station in a manner such that the grade racks whichcorrespond to the grades of the flowers making up the largest volume ofthe ungraded cut flower material to be graded at the station are locatedclosest to the right hand of an operator facing the rack at the gradingstation to minimize the reaching that is required and to produce themost efficient operation.

1. A rack apparatus for forming a graded bunch of cut flowers as cutflowers of that grade are placed in the rack apparatus and comprising, aplurality of laterally spaced pairs of support members for engaging theunderside of flower heads to support the flowers, each of said pairs ofsupport members including a shelf element horizontally positioned tosupport the flower heads and pivotally mounted for swinging movementabout one edge to a vertical position to increase the space between thepair of support members and to permit easy removal of the bunch.
 2. Arack apparatus as defined in claim 1 including linkage means connectedto the shelf elements and effective to rotate each of the shelf elementssimultaneously on actuation of the linkage.
 3. A rack apparatus asdefined in claim 2 wherein the rack apparatus includes four pairs ofsupport members and wherein the linkage means includes two sets of linkswith each set of links connected to operate two shelf elements.
 4. Arack apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the linkage means includesa bar element which serves to position the lower ends of the flower stemclose together as the cut flowers are placed in the rack apparatus.
 5. Arack apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each pair of supportmembers includes a fixed rod element extending parallel to the shelfelement.
 6. A rack apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the shelfelements contain recessed edge portions to facilitate ease of counting.7. A rack apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the shelf elements arerecessed to offset the first flower in the shelf to one side and topermit the next four flowers to be lined up one behind the other and tooffset the last flower to one side.
 8. A flower grading station forsimultaneously grading cut flowers and forming the graded flowers inbunches by grade and comprising, a plurality of flower holding racks forforming graded bunches of cut flowers as the flowers are placed in theracks by grades, each rack apparatus comprising a plurality of laterallyspaced pairs of support members for engaging the underside of flowerheads to support the flowers, each of said pairs of support membersincluding a shelf element horizontally positioned to support the flowerhead and pivotally mounted for swinging movement about one edge to avertical position to increase the space between the pair of supportmembers and to permit easy removal of the graded bunch from the rackafter the rack has been filled.
 9. A flower grading station as definedin claim 8 wherein the racks are arranged at the station in a mannersuch that the grade racks which correspond to the grades of the flowersmaking up the largest volume of the ungraded cut flower material to begraded at the station are located closest to the right hand of anoperator facing the rack at the grading station to minimize the reachingthat is required and to produce the most efficient operation.